Real Bread Campaign to address diversity issues

Amy North
· 27 September, 2018

The Real Bread Campaign has set out plans to address concerns over a lack of diversity among its ambassadors.

The campaign, part of sustainable food production charity Sustain, has faced criticism on social media over the fact that its five ambassadors – who are heading up the campaign’s 10th anniversary celebrations at an event on 26 November – are all men.

“This is fair criticism – we need to work harder to ensure the people who headline our events better reflect the wide range of wonderful people doing so much to reinvigorate the nation’s appreciation of real bread,” said Sustain chief executive Kath Dalmeny.

She added the campaign was working to add experts to the anniversary celebrations event to achieve a better balance.

Earlier this month the Real Bread Campaign began reviewing the role of its ambassadors, which includes investigating whether having a small number of representatives is the best way forward. If the ambassador role is maintained, the campaign will review the selection criteria.

“We recognise there is currently a gender bias, and a lack of diversity in other respects, in this ambassador group and have begun to review the role of official Real Bread Campaign ambassador,” added Dalmeny.

“Should we continue having such a role, we will involve campaign supporters in drawing up both the criteria for becoming an ambassador, and our process for recruitment, with one aim being to put this to the diversity test.”

Looking at Sustain as a whole, Dalmeny pointed out that two of the three management team are women, while the trustee board has a balance of men and women setting the agenda.

“It’s very important to all of us that we keep on striving to get the balance right,” she added.

Sustain undertook a review during 2017/18 on diversity which is “still a work in progress”. This included ensuring that all people are treated fairly and provide opportunities for a wide range of people to have their voices heard.